Montgomery County Children's Opportunity Alliance Pre-K Capacity Building Grant

Pre-K Capacity Building Grant

Funder: Montgomery County Children's Opportunity Alliance

Geographic Scope: Montgomery County, Maryland

Focus Areas: Early care and education, Pre-K capacity building, staff training, accreditation, instructional quality

Program Overview

Comprehensive capacity building grant to prepare child care centers for the Maryland Blueprint Pre-K Expansion Grant. The program provides individualized assessment of program readiness and customized support based on center strengths, goals, and interests.

Award Period

Fall 2024 through June 30, 2025

Eligibility Requirements

• Required: Child care centers with an EXCELS rating of 3 or higher
• Required: Located in high-need areas of Montgomery County Maryland with high density of low-income families
• Required: Must offer at least a 6.5-hour day program
• Required: Must have at least one teacher with:
- CDA credential, OR - Associate's degree in early childhood education, OR - Bachelor's degree in any field, OR - Teachers working toward these credentials with anticipated completion before the 2025-2026 school year
• Required: Must commit to applying for the MSDE Blueprint Pre-K Expansion Grant for the 2025-2026 school year
• Centers interested in serving or currently serving low-income families with quality Pre-K education

What the Grant Offers

• Individualized assessment of program readiness
• Custom readiness plan
• Support for staff training at higher credentialing levels
• Accreditation support and assistance with accreditation process
• CLASS training and coaching (Classroom Assessment Scoring System) to improve teaching practices and classroom interactions
• Program standards support for alignment with MSDE's new early learning standards and assessment
• Navigation support to identify appropriate county and MSDE resources
• Blueprint Pre-K Grant webinars and technical assistance sessions
• Grant preparation and writing support for Blueprint Pre-K Expansion Grant applications
• Grant budgeting and management support
• Materials expenses for quality improvement related to Blueprint Pre-K (such as accreditation and CDA supports) if no county funding currently exists
• Community of Practice membership with new and existing Blueprint Pre-K grantees for shared learning, peer support, and collaboration

Application Timeline

• Applications reviewed on a rolling basis until funds are expended
• Accepted centers begin technical assistance immediately
• Target to complete preparation for Maryland Pre-K Expansion Grant cycle in spring 2025

Contact Information

Montgomery County Children's Opportunity Alliance 1801 Rockville Pike, Suite 320 Rockville, MD 20852 Website: mocochildren.org